It’s good to take a break sometime and reflect on life and appreciate wisdom that is shared by others.
While waiting for my oil to be changed today, I noticed a sign on the wall. It was a list of “45 Lessons Life Taught Me“, by a lady named Regina Brett who is a columnist for the “The Plain Dealer” newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. I was fascinated by some of the things on the list, especially noting the fact that Regina was 90 years old when she wrote this. I took down some details and looked it up when I got home.
Thanks to snopes.com, I learned that this was indeed attributed correctly, but Regina Brett is far from 90 years old. In fact, she turned just 50 not long ago and expanded her list to include five additional lessons.
I thought I’d share this with you today. I’ve highlighted a few that stood out to me. What are your favorites?
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Please take time to share this with others. Thanks!
Did you get some value from this post? If you did, I would really appreciate you sharing it with others! And, your comments are welcome below!
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About Eldon Beard
What a great list Eldon! They’re all really good points, but I think I’m kind of partial to #23. When I worked in travel here in the Islands I used to see people all the time who had finally managed to make their dream trip to Hawaii – but they were so old and weak by the time they made that ‘trip of a lifetime” they couldn’t really have fun. I’d look at those lovely people and think, tomorrow may never come, we should be eating desert today (or being eccentric and wearing purple!) instead of waiting for someday. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hello Marquita, I just got back from an extended vacation so am a bit behind in replying here. 🙂
Wow, I hear you….I know so many people who are planning to have their “dream life” someday, after retiring at 65 or whatever….but so many are unable to enjoy the dream because they waited so long to fulfill it. Super point.
Great list…
# 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Stuck out to me….just change relationship to business.
Thanks for sharing Eldon
Alice
Hey Alice, makes sense, if someone in a network marketing business is afraid or embarrassed to talk to people about it, something is wrong. One would need to examine the reasons closely if they feel that way.
That’s really a huge list. Well my favorite is “37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.” It came to my mind that I need to focus on my daughter because she can only be a child ones.